SINFUL DESIRE

*Elara Morgan stepped off the crowded bus, pulling her single suitcase behind her. The city's energy hit her all at once , the blaring horns of impatient drivers, the none stop thump of footsteps on concrete, and the faint hum of music spilling from distant street performers. The air smelled different too , a mix of rain on asphalt, fresh bread from corner cafés, and the crisp, metallic tang of city life. It was overwhelming, and Elara loved it.

She turned her head back, letting her eyes wander up the towering skyscrapers that seemed to pierce the clouds. Her gaze locked on one in particular : Blackwood Enterprises. Its sleek, glassy facade reflected the fading orange glow of the sunset. It looked more like a fortress than an office, and knowing she'd be stepping inside it tomorrow sent a shiver down her spine, although a smile imprinted on her face.

"This is it," she whispered to herself, gripping the handle of her suitcase tighter. New city, new life, no looking back. She glanced at her phone, skimming over the last message from her mother: "Be safe, sweetheart. Remember, you're stronger than you think." Elara took a breath, nodded to herself, and stepped forward.

The next morning, Elara stood in the grand marble lobby of Blackwood Enterprises, and suddenly, all that confidence she'd built up began to crack, he palms and feets became sweaty. Everything about the place screamed wealth and power , from the towering glass windows to the sleek, modern art that lined the walls. People in tailored suits moved with purpose, their gazes forward, their phones pressed to their ears. No one looked lost or uncertain. No one looked like her.

She smoothed down her simple blouse and glanced at her reflection in one of the glossy walls. Her auburn hair, pulled into a neat bun, was already starting to loosen from the humidity. Her blouse was crisp, but compared to the high-end designer wear around her, she felt like an imposter.

Don't think like that, Elara, she told herself, inhaling slowly. She approached the front desk.

"Hi, I'm Elara Morgan. I'm here for my first day."

The receptionist, a woman with sharp features and an even sharper glare, tapped on her computer before giving Elara a once-over. "You're being reassigned. Take the elevator to the 40th floor. Mr. Blackwood will see you."

Her heart stopped. Cassian Blackwood? The CEO himself? The man who had built this empire from nothing? She'd expected to be shuffled into an HR meeting or handed a training packet, not to be thrown into a lion's den.

"Is there a problem?" the receptionist asked, arching one perfectly drawn eyebrow.

"No," Elara said quickly, swallowing her nerves. "No problem."

Her heart thudded with every step she took toward the elevator. Stay calm, stay sharp. You earned this. The ride to the 40th floor was very silent, except for the soft hum of the elevator. Her mind replayed everything she'd read about Cassian Blackwood. Billionaire by 32. Ruthless negotiator. Women called him "The Devil in a Suit." The tabloids loved him, but his employees spoke of him like a storm unpredictable, powerful, and impossible to control.

When the elevator doors slid open, Elara stepped into a space so refined it felt so unreal. A long hallway led to a massive set of double doors at the end, and standing by them was a tall man in a charcoal suit. She knew who he was before he even spoke. Cassian Blackwood.

"Miss Morgan," he said, his voice as smooth and cold as polished steel. "You're late."

Her breath hitched. She wasn't late. The elevator had only just arrived. But something told her he didn't care about technicalities.

"I took the first available elevator," she replied, raising her chin. Her voice was steady, though her heart raced with all might. "But I'll be earlier next time."

A flicker of something crossed his face amusement, perhaps? She couldn't be sure.

"Good answer," he murmured, turning his head slightly as if reevaluating her. "Come inside."

He opened the double doors and led her into his office. It was more than an office , it was a kingdom. Floor-to-ceiling windows displayed the entire city skyline, the view so breathtaking it felt like standing on the edge of the world. His desk, large and dark as obsidian, sat in the center, papers arranged with perfect precision. Every inch of the space spoke of control.

Cassian walked behind the desk and leaned against it, crossing his arms as he studied her. He didn't offer her a chair.

"Tell me something, Miss Morgan," he said, his eyes sharp and unyielding. "Why do you think you belong here?"

Her mouth went dry, but she forced herself to speak. "Because I'm adaptable. I learn fast, and I know how to solve problems."

"Everyone says that," he replied, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me something I haven't heard before."

Silence hung between them. The weight of his gaze pressed on her like a physical force. Her first instinct was to shrink back, but she didn't. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she wouldn't let him see it.

"I know how to read people," she said slowly, her eyes locking with his. "I know what they want before they say it. And I can use that to my advantage."

A pause. Then, slowly, his lips curved into a smirk.

"Interesting," he said, his gaze never leaving hers. "We'll see if that's true." He glanced at his watch. "Be here at 7 AM tomorrow. My office. Direct report to me."

Her pulse jumped. She'd been prepared for an assistant role, not this.

"Understood," she said, her voice firm despite the chaos in her chest.

He moved closer, his eyes darkening with something she couldn't place. "One more thing," he murmured. He leaned in, close enough that she could smell the faint scent of cedar and smoke. His gaze flicked to her lips, then back to her eyes. "Do you always play it safe, Miss Morgan? Or do you ever take risks?"

Her breath hitched. The weight of the question wasn't lost on her. Her fingers clenched at her sides, but her gaze didn't waver.

"I only take risks," she said, her voice like steel, "when they're worth it."

His smile was slow and dangerous. "Then I hope, for your sake, you're worth it."

Later that night, Elara sat cross-legged on her bed, her phone buzzing in her hand. She'd been replaying the entire encounter with Cassian in her mind, trying to make sense of it. He was unlike anyone she'd ever met - sharp as a blade, cold as stone, but there was something else. Something electric.

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced down. A message from an unknown number.

> Unknown Number: "I like employees who aren't afraid of risk. Welcome to Blackwood Enterprises. Be ready at 7 AM."

Her heart leapt into her throat. It had to be him. Her fingers hovered over the screen. How had he even gotten her number?

Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths as a rush of heat swept through her. She told herself it was just adrenaline from a long day. Just nerves. But deep down, she knew better. This wasn't nerves. It was something else entirely.

Placing the phone on her nightstand, she switched off the light. Darkness wrapped around her, but it didn't feel like she was alone. Her mind echoed with his words. "Do you ever take risks?"

Her eyes fluttered shut, and in the stillness, she could still feel his gaze on her. It wasn't a look of a boss assessing an employee. It was the gaze of a predator watching something he'd already decided was his.

For the first time in her life, Elara wasn't sure if she'd made the right choice. But it didn't matter. There was no turning back now.